Free-fall aerial contained



Oct. 12, 1948. w. J. SANDERSON FREE-FALL AERIAL CONTAINER Filed Nov. 16, 1945 W. J.SANDERSON Patented Oct. 12, 1948 5;:11. -t:

UNITED STAT FREE-FALL AERIAL CONTAINER William J. Sanderson, Madison, Wis assignor to the United States of America I the Secretary of Agriculture as represented by Application November 18, 1945, Serial No. 629,205 e .6 Claims. (01. 2411-138), .2. g 3 V (Granted under the act of March 3, 188 3, as I amended April 30, 19-28; 370 0. G. 757) This application is made under the act-of March 3, 1883, as amended by the act ofApril 30, 1928, and the invention herein described and claimed, if patented, may be manufactured and used by or for the Government of the United States of America for governmental purposes without the payment to me of any royalty thereon.

This invention relates to devices which may be droppedfrom altitudes of about 300 feet or more, such asfrom aircraft, to descend and fall upon the earth with little or no damage.

x This invention is particularly applicable to containers which may be used to deliver supplies and equipment from aircraft to troops in battle, to

firefighters in forest areas, or to persons stranded on islands, mountains, or other isolated places not easily accessible by other means.

Among the objects of this invention is the provision of a device for the purposes indicated,

whichobviates the necessity for. using ordinary parachutes.

Other objects are the provision of a device of the type mentioned which is not likely to become caught in oron parts of the aircraft from which it may be dropped or to fail to function in free flight; does not, in time of war, present as good a target to enemy-action while falling or after lending as ordinary parachutes; does not drag after landing when wind is blowing; does notoscillate while descending, thereby preventing striking the ground with a sideways motion; and absorbs shock on impact With the ground. jFurther objects and advantages of this invention will be apparent from the following description, considered together with the accompanying drawing. r

"In thedrawing referred to,

Figure 1 is an isometric view of an embodiment of the invention, with a part broken away, in an operative position as it would appear in an actual descent.

Figure 2 is an isometric view of one of the bulkheads.

Figure 3 is a side elevational view of the same embodiment with the wings. in a folded or retracted position.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary view, partly in section, along the line 44 of Figure 5.

Figure 5 is a plan view of the embodiment illustrated in Figure 1.

-Figure 6 is an isometric view of a crossbar for securing the cargo in position.

Referring with more particularity to the drawing in which like numerals refer to like parts, the embodiment illustrated comprises a container I l of any suitable design, preferably of double thickness fiberboard, having two oppositeflat parallel sides l2-and l3, to the upper part of which are hingedly attached Wings 14 and i5, respectively, substantially as illustrated. The points of attachment should preferably be at or nearthe :top of the container and above its center of gravity. Any suitable hinge means may be employed, such as the canvas hinges i5 and H, secured to the sides l2 and I3 by panels l8 and!!! and bolts 28. Other types of hinges, such as metal or plastic, may be used, and they may be secured in position-by any suitable means, such as bystapling, riveting, and so forth.

The panels l8 and I9 are provided with bottom edges 2| and 22, respectively, that slope indiiferent directions corresponding to the angle of incidence of the wings.

When not in use, the wings are retractab-ly disposed, as shown in Figure 3, fiat against the sides 12 and 13 of the container, but when in actual descent, they assume a horizontal, or nearly horizontal, position, as shown in Figures 1, 4, and 5, and are restrained from going beyond this position by means such as the illustrated ropes or cables 23and 24 attached to the wings and sides of the container through apertures that are reinforced with grommets oreyelets 25. However, other means may be provided for this purpose, such as wing struts, special hinges, abutments between. the wings and the container, or any other means.

The aerofoil section of the wings i4 and E5 may be of any desired design. However, the leading edges 26 and 21 of these wings face in the same direction of rotation when the container is rotated on its vertical or longitudinal axis. The lower edges 2i and 22 of the panels l8 and i9 slope so that, when in open position, as shown in Figures 1, 4, and 5, the leading edge of one or both of the wings islower than the trailing edge.

- In descent, air strikes the under side of the wings and is directed toward the trailing edges thereof, thereby imparting a reaction force in the opposite direction. This causes the container to rotate on its longitudinal axis in a vertical position. The resultant movement of the wings in this direction and in the downward direction causes them to function as an aerofoil thereby producing a force against the action of gravity which retards the speed of the falling container.

'The amount of retardation will depend upon the area and aerofoil design of the wings, which, in general, may be of any of the numerous designs known to the art. The slow descent plus the retation of the container, the latter motion continuing momentarily when the container strikes the earth, results in an easy landing.

The bottom and top of the containers are provided with removable bulkheads 28 and29, which may be secured in position by any suitable means, such as the ropes 30 and 3| laced through apertures 32 of the container and corresponding apertures 33 through flaps 34 of the bulkhead. When emp t econtainermayb'e. compl tely llapsed 3 by removing the bulkheads so as to occupy only a small space. The bulkheads relieve the shock to the contents when landing and at the same time reinforce the container at both the bottom and the top.

The embodiment illustrated may, with the wings in the retracted position and the container filled with materials to be delivered, be packed and stored in quantities as airplane cargo, and when it is desired to drop them at any particular point, it is only necessary to launch them in any position or drop them from brackets on the airplane. After they are free of the airplane, the air rushing around the descending container causes the wings to open, and the device becomes vertically stabilized with the wings in horizontal position.

The device may be provided with one or more auxiliary wings. In the drawing, an auxiliary wing is shown on the main wing l4, and it comprises a strip of material which is smaller than the wing l4 and is attached to its top surface by means of web hinges 3B and 31, substantially as shown. The rearward edge 38 of the auxiliary wing is the hinge line. When not in use, the auxiliary wing lies flat on the main wing [4. In descent, air flowing over the main wing causes the auxiliary wing to open to the limit of the web hinges 36 and 31, thereby increasing the drag efiect. Such devices may also be used as the sole means of imparting rotation without depending upon the main wings l4 and 15 for this function.

Various modifications of the above embodiment are included within the scope of this invention. For example, it is within the scope of this invention to provide wings which, instead of being attached directly to the container, are rotatably mounted on a shaft solid or otherwise to which the container or other object is suspended. (This embodiment is not illustrated.) Although the embodiment illustrated has only two wings attached to the container, three, four, or any other number of wings may be used, so long as the leading edges face in the same direction of rotation when the container is rotated. on its vertical axis.

In order to hold the contents of the container in position, a bar 39 may be employed, the length of which is approximately equal to the .inside width of the container. The ends of the bar are provided with spikes 40 and 4| that project from the ends a substantial distance and secured in position by any suitable means, such as staples 42 and 43. The bar is set in position by first placing one end so that the spike will pierce the center of one side of the container at a point at the top of the contents. The other end of the bar is forced down so that it comes to rest on the top of the contents. The spike on this end of the bar then pierces the other side of the container and is thereby held fast in position. Any number of such bars may be used, two being illustrated in the drawing in a crossed relation.

Having thus described m invention, I claim:

1. A device of the character described comprising a container, wings on the sides of the con tainer, each wing having an end hinged to the container to permit inward retraction against the sides of the container, and means to restrain the wings from outward movement beyond a predetermined position, whereby said device in falling through the air will tend to rotate by the action of the air against said Wings, and at least one auxiliary wing secured to one of said main wings for retarding such rotation.

2. A free-fall container comprising a carton having collapsible side walls, bulkheads adapted to be inserted between said side walls to hold said walls in an expanded position and to form the 'ends of the carton, removable means for securing said bulkheads in position, wings attached to the sides of said carton to impart rotation to said container and retard it descent when it falls through the air, and auxiliary means for retarding the rotation.

3. A free-fall container comprising a carton having collapsible side walls, bulkheads adapted to be inserted between said side walls to hold said walls in an expanded position and to form the ends of the carton, removable means for securing said bulkheads in position, removable braces for the walls of said carton, wings attached to the sides of said carton to impart rotation to said container and retard its descent when it falls through the air, and auxiliary means for retarding the rotation.

4. A free-fall container comprising a carton having collapsible side walls, bulkheads adapted to be inserted between said side walls to hold said walls in an expanded position and to form the ends of the carton, removable means for securing said bulkheads in position, main wings attached to the sides of said carton to impart rotation to said container and retard its descent when it falls through the air, and at least one auxiliary wing secured to one of said ma n wings.

5. A free-fall container comprising a carton having collapsible side walls, bulkheads adapted to be inserted between said side walls to hold said walls in an expanded position and to form the ends of the carton, removable means for securing said bulkheads in position, main wing attached to the sides of said carton to impart rotation to said container and retard its descent when it falls through the air, a smaller wing on one of said main wings, and Webhinges between said smaller wing and corresponding main wing.

6., A free-fall container comprising a carton having collapsible side walls, bulkheads adapted to be inserted between said side walls to hold said walls in an expanded position and to form the ends of the carton, removable means for securing said bulkheads in position, wings attached to the sides of said carton to impart rotation to said container and retard its descent when it falls through the air, said wings being secured to the container by means of hinges, the hinge Iine of said hinges being on a bias relative to the longitudinal axis of the wing.

WILLIAM J. SANDERSON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record. in. the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Great Britain, 1913- Oct. 29, 1914 

